Southern Indiana Living JanFeb 2018

Special Feature: A Southern Indiana Wedding! 

Southern 

IndIana 

Jan / Feb 2018 

Living 

Our Town: 

French Lick, Indiana 

Mathes 

Pharmacy 

A Family Affair

Open the 

door to new 

opportunities 

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be accounting, business, pharmacy or any of our other exciting 

areas of study. And with many of our programs available online, 

we make it easy to fit a quality education into your busy schedule. 

Don’t wait to give yourself what 

you deserve. Visit sullivan.edu to 

find out more and register today. 

Classes start 

MARCH 26th 

Certificates 

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Jan/Feb 2018 • 2

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• Unique, historic, redwood structure • Accommodates 185 people • Hardwood floors 

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Featured Stories 

22 | A FAMILY AFFAIR 

Mathes Pharmacy, serving the community for 86 years 

32 | MILES OF LOVE AND SERVICE 

Local couple models servant leadership 

34 | A SOUTHERN INDIANA WEDDING 

Local couple uses Southern Indiana Vendors to make 

their dreams come true 

18 

40 | BRENDA’S JOURNEY 

HMR Program at Baptist Health provides accountability 

and coaching on path to wellness 

42 | INSPIRED BY STONE 

The sculptures of Larry Beisler 

Southern Indiana Living 

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2018 

In Every Issue 

7 | FLASHBACK PHOTO 

Snow Day, New Albany, IN, 1945 

9 | A NOTE TO BABY BOOMERS 

Family Ties that Bind 

12 

10 | A WALK IN THE GARDEN WITH BOB HILL 

A Burst of Color 

12 | OUR TOWN 


26 | COMMUNITY PAGES 

Spotlight on Metro United Way, Rotary Club of New 

Albany, and more! 

28 | #BUYLOCAL 

Local Business Spotlight 

22 

45 | EVERYDAY ADVENTURES 

Winter Wipeout 


* Cabinets, table, and island by Schmidt Cabinet Company // Table built by the great grandson of the founder, John H. Schmidt 

Schmidt Cabinet Company is located in New Salisbury, IN. 

Family owned and operated since 1959. 

Photo courtesy of Michelle Hockman Photography 

Visit our showroom Monday thru Friday 8 a.m.—4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, or evenings by appointment or visit our website at www. 

schmidtcabinet.com and see our unmatched selection of cabinets and countertops for every room of your home and offce. Schmidt 

offers a variety of styles from Traditional to Contemporary, in a wide array of woods and colors. 

Jan/Feb 2018 • 6 

1355 Hwy 64 NE 

New Salisbury, IN 47161 

812-347-2434


IndIana 


JAN | FEB 2018 

VOL. 11, ISSUE 1 

PUBLISHER | 

Karen Hanger 

karen@silivingmag.com 

LAYOUT & DESIGN | 

Christy Byerly 

christy@silivingmag.com 

COPY EDITOR | 

Jennifer Cash 

Flashback Photo 

Snow Day 

New Albany, Indiana 

1945 

COPY EDITOR | 

Sara Combs 

ADVERTISING | 

Take advantage of prime 

advertising space. 

Call us at 812-989-8871 or 

e-mail karen@silivingmag.com 

SUBSCRIPTIONS | 

$25/year, Mail to: Southern 

Indiana Living, P.O. Box 145, 

Marengo, IN 47140 

Contact SIL 

P.O. Box 145 


812.989.8871 

karen@silivingmag.com 

ON THE COVER: A Chandelier 

at the French Lick 

Springs Hotel // Photo by 

Michelle Hockman 

Check out more 

features and stories 

on our EPUB Exclusive! 

www.silivingmag.com 

Photo courtesy of Stuart B. Wrege Indiana History Room, New Albany-Floyd County Public Library. 

Southern Indiana Living is 

published bimonthly by SIL 

Publishing Co. LLC, P.O. Box 

145, Marengo, Ind. 47140. 

Any views expressed in any 

advertisement, signed letter, 

article, or photograph 

are those of the author and 

do not necessarily reflect 

the position of Southern 

Indiana Living or its parent 

company. Copyright © 2018 

SIL Publishing Co. LLC. No 

part of this publication may 

be reproduced in any form 

without written permission 

from SIL Publishing Co. LLC. 

SIL 

Magazine 

is a BBB 

accredited 

business 

This photo from 1945 shows snow covering the rooftop of the East Market Street School on East 

Market between East 8th Street and 9th Street. According to library records, this building was 

formerly used as the German-American School or Independent German-American School, and 

later, the School Administration Annex. 


It’s Better in 3D! 

3D mammography 

means earlier detection 

and better results! 

Based on your insurance 

coverage, your 3D 

Mammogram may 

be covered at no 

additional cost to you! 

Ask your physician 

to schedule your 

next mammogram 

at Harrison County 

Hospital Women’s 

Center. 

For more information, 

call 812-738-7891. 

www.hchin.org 


A Note to Baby Boomers 

The Family Ties That Bind 

My son and his family just built 

a beautiful, roomy home. 

It sits in my backyard. 

They moved out of a 

house next door. My daughter now lives 

there. 

Yes, my two children are my two 

closest neighbors. No, I am not on the 

verge of hara-kiri. 

I get why you might wonder, 

though. 

With my family and with yours, 

there are ideals and there is reality. We 

thrive occasionally and we survive. For 

better or for worse, in sickness and in 

health, the Moss family is in it together. 

And we have history on our side. 

Your family will get through today 

and tomorrow one way, mine another. 

You might not see your children again 

until next Christmas. I could see mine by 

noon. Am I lucky? Are you? 

A judge told me about a woman in 

drug court who would not complete the 

requirements. She was as dead set on failure 

as she seemed capable of success. The 

judge asked questions and realized something. 

The woman finds a home in court 

that she does not find, well, at home. The 

court staff had become this woman’s only 

family. 

We all need family. 

For my family, in our circumstance, 

relationships are routine. Caring comes 

with the territory. Little is planned. Much 

may be taken for granted. We catch up 

while getting the mail and cutting the 

grass. We know one another’s business, 

with or without much effort. 

Like I still have business worth 

knowing. 

“Modern Family” works on TV now 

like “Leave It to Beaver” did then. The nature 

of family changes as often as the price 

of unleaded at Thornton’s. Grown children 

move back in with Mom and Dad. 

Children become their parents’ parents 

and grandparents step in and raise grandchildren. 

Trying does matter. Put down the 

electronic gizmo and try harder. Wiped 

out by a stroke, my father’s father spent 

his final months in a nursing home. His 

roommate, a terrific guy, rarely saw family. 

Too many residents never did. In what 

world is that excusable? 

I cherish memories with Poppy. 

I love that I came from a family that respects 

family. 

Attending back-to-school nights and 

the kids’ ballgames was not a chore. My 

parents agreed. They apologized like crazy 

when they begged off when my junior 

high team played in Henryville. Too far. 

Good thing South Bend was not on 

the schedule. 

Living a stone’s throw from my 

children makes it easier to help but also 

to meddle. I can makes things better or 

worse. It’s up to me. I cannot run away 

and join the circus. 

Barnum & Bailey went out of business. 

My great-great grandparents moved 

to Southern Indiana from Kentucky. They 

bought farmland and built a home in 1861 

overlooking the Ohio River. 

They must have made life there look 

good. My greatgrandparents and grandparents 

and parents went on to live in 

the same house, and so did I. Again, be it 

charming or creepy, tradition is my family’s 

past, present and future. 

While most families scatter, mine 

has not known any better than to hang together. 

For a while, my daughter lived a 

whole half-mile away. She might as well 

have been in Henryville. 

She either has returned to her senses 

or totally has lost them. 

Living in essentially the homestead 

annex — now my daughter’s home — my 

son’s family ran out of space. What was 

not overrun by Barbies and Legos was 

overrun by laundry. The family had options. 

It could have bought a charming 

place in a subdivision with other little children 

and no hovering kin. 

But here they are, my son and his 

wife and my grandchildren, having reenlisted 

for more of family life our way. 

Being close can feel too close, all right. 

Will the good outweigh the bad in 

My great-great grandparents moved to 

Southern Indiana from Kentucky. They 

bought farmland and built a home in 

1861 overlooking the Ohio River. 

the Moss compound? I like our odds. 

My children are not bashful about 

leaning on their parents. I am as proud of 

that as anything. Parenting is lifelong. Duties 

change. Commitment cannot. 

I am a young old man. I am not of 

dying age. But neither were my parents 

when they passed. I was their next-door 

neighbor when they needed me most, and 

I tried my best. 

My children do not choose to live 

where they do so they can check up on 

me, but it’s cool how it’s all turned out. I 

hope my children agree. I believe they will 

try. It is how they were raised. 

It is a Moss thing and, thank God, it 

goes on and on. • 

After 25 years, Dale Moss 

retired as Indiana columnist for 

The Courier-Journal. He now 

writes weekly for the News and 

Tribune. Dale and his wife Jean 

live in Jeffersonville in a house 

that has been in his family 

since the Civil War. Dale’s 

e-mail is dale.moss@twc.com 


A Walk in the Garden with Bob Hill 

A Burst of Color 

Japanese maple 

SANGO-KAKU 

Japanese Maple Bihou 

Nandina Domestica 

Plants that add beautiful shapes and colors to the winter landscape 


The phrase “dead of winter” becomes 

pretty much a mixed message 

as we all lean into the realities 

of January and February. 

Sure, the season can be gray, cold, 

windy, dowdy, dull and expensive — 

Christmas bills and new snow tires — but 

none of those are necessarily fatal. And 

yes, “Dead of Winter” is also the title for a 

smash of a horror movie. 

But on the living side, the sky is never 

bluer, the landscape whiter, the shrub 

profiles more lovely or the tree barks more 

vivid than in the dead of winter. Properly 

planned and planted, you can also enjoy 

those stunning shapes and colors peering 

out the living room window with the thermostat 

set at 72 degrees. Indeed, all you 

see pictured here can be seen from our 

house. But you have to think ahead and 

plant such in spring. 

First up on my hot list for winter 

color is the Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) 

‘Sango-kaku’ or ‘Coral Bark’ maple. 

Hidden Hill has a bunch. Its vase shape 

is already plenty attractive in late spring, 

summer and fall as its leaves emerge yellow-green 

with red margins, turn light 

green in summer and yellow-gold in fall. 

But the real treat is in winter as the 

bark turns to coral-pink, with the strongest 

of colors on the younger twigs and 

branches. The effect is absolutely stunning 

— a coral tower (The loose translation of 

‘Sango-kaku’) in the winter landscape. 

I did a fair amount of research trying 

to learn why the bark turns reddish-coral 

in winter without much success. My best 

guesses are it provides some sort of winter 

protection, or they are all Jimmy Buffett 

fans. 

Gentle warning: It is primarily the 

younger limbs of Sango-kaku that show 

the most January and February color. As 

the tree ages, the older bark winters over 

in a less interesting and muted color. If 

you need more proof of that, go look in 

the mirror. 

Next up on my Favorite Japanese 

Maples for Winter Color List is the acer 

palmatum ‘Bihou,’ which translates to 

“beautiful mountain range,” a whole lot 

of description in five letters (and three of 

them vowels at that). 

Our Bihou is not far out the kitchen 

window, just a little off to the right, an 

easy and welcome target for the winter 

sun. Its fall leaf color is a delicious yellow, 

but it really earns its landscape spurs in 

the winter with a golden yellow bark that 

will honor a tree that grows to about 10 

feet tall and 5 feet wide. 

If you want to get all geographic 

about winter-color, in Japanese maples 

there is ‘Pacific Fire,’ which has an even 

darker red look than Sango-kaku, and 

‘Japanese Sunrise,’ which has multicolored 

bark in red, yellow and even a little 

orange. It will offer the same in an Indiana 

sunrise, too. 

As a general rule — if not a specific 

rule — Japanese maples want protection 

from the sun either through filtered light 

or sited in afternoon shade. In the dead of 

winter, of course, the leaves are all gone. 

If it’s some winter-color in plants a 

little closer to the ground, if not the pocketbook 

you seek, the easiest solution is the 

red-twig dogwood, which now comes in 

about 10 different colors from actual red 

to yellowish to almost orange. 

They are very easy to grow, can take 

a wetter area and make great “welcome 

home” plants along the driveway or high 

traffc areas. Other than the variegated 

cultivars and the white spring flowers, 

they are not real showy until winter, but 

then the music cranks up. 

‘Cardinal’ and ‘Arctic Fire’ are, as the 

names suggest, some kind of red. ‘Arctic 

Sun’ goes yellow, orange and coral, and 

could make a good buddy with your Japanese 

maples. They are easily cared for 

— just prune heavily in late winter when 

the fires go out to keep the new, colorful 

branches coming. 

Another sure bet for late winter color 

— if not to cover your spiritual bases 

— is “Sacred Bamboo,” more commonly 

known as ‘Heavenly Bamboo’ or Nandina 

domestica. 

This nandina, as opposed to many of 

the newer cultivars that are smaller, tighter 

and have almost no berries, is covered 

with big bunches of bright red berries in 

the fall. 

It can be 5 to 6 feet tall, bloom with 

inconspicuous white flowers in spring, 

but go all heavenly with its berry displays 

that will last at least as long at your Christmas 

bills. Left to its own devices, it can get 

to 6 to 8 feet tall, but it can take drought 

and does very well in the shade. 

The sky is never bluer, the landscape 

whiter, the shrub profiles more 

lovely or the tree barks more vivid 

than in the dead of winter. 

It is a congenial plant — it offers 

more berries when grown in bunches of 

three or five. It also has a bit of reputation 

for being invasive, but I’ve not had any of 

those problems in Hidden Hill’s 8 landscaped 

acres. There are even places where 

it would be welcome to fill in the gaps. 

Finally, if you’re wondering about 

space issues, there is a dwarf nandina 

named ’Flirt’ that has purple-red foliage 

about nine or 10 months a year. It doesn’t 

berry as much, but so far no members of 

Congress have had to resign for trying to 

grow it. • 

About the Author 

Bob Hill owns Hidden Hill 

Nursery and can be 

reached at farmerbob@ 

hiddenhillnursery.com. 

For more information, 

including nursery hours 

and event information, go 

to www.hiddenhillnursery. 

com 


Our Town 

Our Town: 



Story by Sara Combs 

Photos by Michelle Hockman 


Visitors to French Lick West 

Baden can try their luck at a Vegas-style 

casino, take an excursion 

on the French Lick Scenic 

Railway, eat in multiple restaurants, shop 

in a wide variety of establishments, play 

golf, attend dinner theater in the former 

estate of basketball legend Larry Bird, visit 

the historic French Lick and West Baden 

Springs hotels and more. 

Tucked in the hills of Hoosier National 

Forest in Orange County, French 

Lick West Baden is a classic tourist destination 

with a rich and colorful history. 

The French Lick West Baden Museum, a 

must stop for tourists, captures all that 

with its detailed exhibits. One of its most 

popular features Larry Bird, according to 

museum director Patty Drabing. 

The museum’s most elaborate display 

is an amazing diorama depicting the 

Hagenback-Wallace Circus, which wintered 

in the town from 1915 until 1929. 

Crafted over 40 some years by Peter Gorman, 

the 1,100-square-foot scale model 

includes over 150,000 pieces, and Gorman 

tweaks the display annually. 

Drabing, who has served as the museum’s 

director for a little over a year, assembled 

an in-depth display featuring the 

town’s African-American heritage. The 

museum also houses extensive exhibits 

detailing the history of French Lick hotel, 

which is on the National Register of Historic 

Places and West Baden Springs hotel, 

a National Landmark. There are displays 

of the town’s early casinos, its famous 

Pluto and Sprudel waters and the works 

of brothers Henry and Ferdinand Cross, 

who received national acclaim — Henry 

with his paint brush and Ferdinand with 

his hammer and chisel. 

French Lick West Baden Springs is 

most widely recognized as Bird’s hometown. 

The city also attracted national attention 

in 2006, with the opening of the 

French Lick Resort Casino, the state’s 10th 

casino in the modern legalized area. 

French Lick — once known as The 

Lick — was originally a French trading 

post built near a spring and a salt lick. It 

became a fortified ranger post in 1811 and 

the town was founded in 1857. Its post 

offce has been in operation since 1847. 

West Baden was founded in the 1850s and 

named after the spa town Baden-Baden in 

Germany. 

Spas at French Lick Resort in French 

Lick and West Baden carry on the tradition 

begun in the 1840s when sulfur 

springs gained popularity for supposed 

health benefits. By the later half of the 19th 

century, French Lick was nationally famous 

as a spa town. Today’s spas feature 

modern skin care and body treatments, 

manicures and massages while the earlier 

ones promoted the mineral waters’ laxative 

properties. (Pluto water’s slogan was 

“When Nature Won’t, Pluto Will.”) 

Foreshadowing its future in today’s 

gaming industry, in the early 20th century, 

the town featured casinos, that with 

the plush hotels and spas, attracted such 

celebrities as composer Irving Berlin, Joe 

and Rose Kennedy, Harry Truman, Richard 

Nixon, the Reagans, Louis Armstrong, 

Hoagy Carmichael and Lana Turner. 

Franklin D. Roosevelt announced 

his intention to run for president at a 

National Governor’s Convention held in 

French Lick and the Chicago Cubs and 

Chicago White Sox baseball teams held 

spring training there in the 1940s to conserve 

rail transport during World War II. 

French Lick’s circus history is 

echoed today at nearby Wilstem Ranch, 

said Kristal Painter, finance manager at 

the visitors center. An African elephant 

herd (three females) will be at the ranch 

March 11 through Nov. 19. “The public 

can experience the elephants in several 

ways,” Painter said. There is a spa session 

that will allow visitors to assist in bathing 

Pictured: (page 13) Carriage rides at French Lick Resort; (this page) the French Lick Scenic Railway; (right hand page) the gardens at the West Baden Springs Hotel. 


Tucked in the hills of Hoosier National Forest in Orange 

County, French Lick West Baden is a classic tourist 

destination with a rich and colorful history. 

the elephants and an educational seminar 

in which guests will learn about the 

animals and get to touch them and take 

photos. Also, Wilstem has announced a 

kangaroo encounter Jan. 2 through Feb. 

25, and there are year-round giraffe experiences. 

The ranch also features horseback 

riding, ziplining and ATV riding. Lodging 

is available. For the schedule and prices, 

call 812-936-4484, or see wilstemranch. 

com. 

An entertainment venue opened this 

fall with shows in the style of Branson, 

Missouri, according to Painter. The shows 

are held at Abbydell Hall at the Legend 

of French Lick (the former Larry Bird estate). 

There is also a dinner option. The 

next production will be “Twist the Night 

Away,” featuring music of the 1950s and 

’60s. Performances are set for March 24 

and 31; April 7 and 14; June 28; July 12 and 

19, and Aug. 12. For information, call 812- 

936-5300 or see legendoffrenchlick.com. 

Another popular event is the 10th 

annual Chocolate Fest, held at the French 

Lick Springs hotel on Feb. 10, Painter said. 

Guests will experience a spectrum of all 

things chocolate in a 1920s theme. Typically, 

the fest features 15 types of chocolate 

and more than 50 unique chocolate 

creations. A variety of packages are offered, 

including one for ages 6-12. The fest 

will be held in the Hoosier Ballroom from 

1 to 4 p.m. For information, see frenchlick. 

com/node2030. 

The French Lick West Baden Springs 

community is home to a variety of enterprises, 

both unique and traditional. 

“For instance, Hinshaw Rock ’N 

Gems is a neat place,” Painter said. “It is 

a family-owned business since 1961. They 

make one-of-a-kind jewelry and will demonstrate 

the art of cutting and polishing 

stones.” 

Janis Hinshaw, who owns the business 

with her husband, Merrill, explained 

the process. “We just take what Mother 

Nature made and make it prettier.” Merrill 

Hinshaw has been recognized as one 

of the top 10 stone polishers in the nation. 

“This is Merrill’s business,” Janis Hinshaw 

said. “He is the silversmith, the artist. 

The rest of the family just pitches in as 

needed. 

“We do a lot of custom work, but 

we have jewelry in all price ranges,” she 

said. “We want our products to be affordable.” 

All of the items are handmade. 

The facility has been on County 

Road 650 West since 2003. “We were located 

in Randolph County, but needed more 

room,” Janis Hinshaw said. “We found 

this place and really like it.” 


The region’s reputation as a resort area 

began in the 1830s. By the late 19th 

century, seven rail lines brought guests 

from throughout the United States to 

visit French Lick Springs and West 

Baden Springs Hotels. 

Pictured: (this page, top) The Atrium at West Baden Springs Hotel; 

(this page, middle and bottom) dining at the West Baden Springs 

hotel; (right hand page) the lobby at the French Lick Springs hotel. 


Other local attractions include Big 

Splash Adventure water park, hotel and 

dining; French Lick/West Baden Indoor 

Karting, featuring a quarter-mile indoor 

track with a track for smaller children and 

one for adults, an arcade, concessions and 

a gift shop; and Springs Stadium Theatre. 

There are three golf courses: Donald Ross 

Golf Course, Pete Dye Course and The 

Valley Links. The Cutting Edge (Bear Hollow 

Wood Carvers) not only features oneof-a-kind 

chainsaw sculptures, but also 

sells soaps, syrups and home decor. The 

French Lick Winery & Vintage Cafe offers 

more than 30 wines, casual dining and a 

gift shop. • 

For more information, see visitfrenchlickwestbaden.com 

or call 812-936-3418. 

French Lick West Baden Springs Historic Buildings 

French Lick Springs and West Baden Springs Hotels 

The region’s reputation as a resort area began in the 1830s. By the late 19th century, seven rail lines brought guests from 

throughout the United States to visit the two hotels, a mile from each other. Both hotels have seen good times and bad 

times. Both have been renovated and are part of the French Lick Springs Resort. See frenchlick.com/aboutus/history/flsh; 

frenchlick.com/aboutus/history/flwb 

Homestead Hotel 

Oxford Hotel 

The once-popular hotel and club, also known as the West Baden Springs Hotel, was built in 1913. It has been restored and 

serves as an apartment house and business center, with retail shops, a doctor and an attorney. 

A popular hotel during the area’s earlier heyday, it was built about 1910. The large three-story building, featuring cast 

iron storefronts, has been authentically restored and is the local visitor center. 

First Baptist Church 

Dixie Garage 

The church is owned by Southeastern District Association Inc, Bloomington. The building is being preserved and some 

of its contents are part of the African-American Display at the French Lick/West Baden Springs Museum with a special 

exhibit dedicated to the church. 

Dixie Garage, originally a parking garage, is owned by the French Lick Springs Resort and was one of the first buildings 

renovated. It was built about 1919. The building housed an automobile repair shop until the late 1930s. Since then, it 

has been a skating rink, bottling plant and wood manufacturer and a storage facility for the resort during its renovation. 

West Baden National Bank 

The bank was originally located in the lobby of the West Baden Hotel and moved to the current location in front of the 

hotel during its 1915 renovation. Building was completed in 1917 and was remodeled in the 1990s. Photos of the original 

interior are displayed at the French Lick West Baden Museum. 


“We just take what Mother Nature 

made and make it prettier.” 

- Janis Hinshaw, owner of Hinshaw Rock ‘N Gems, 

a local family owned business since 1961 

Pictured: (top and middle) Matt Hinshaw at Hinshaw Rock ‘N Gems; (bottom) Jewelry created and sold by Henshaw Rock ‘N Gems 


French Licks Ice Cream and Coffee 

Bar offers a sweet treat for shoppers at 

Bear Hollow Wood Carvers. 

Pictured: (top and middle) Samantha Penwell serves coffee at French Licks Ice Cream and Coffee Bar; 

(thie page, bottom) While enjoying ice cream and coffee, you can shop at Bear Hollow Wood Carvers, 

located in the same store front. 


Over 55 Years in Business 

Unique 

Jewelry 

Guitar Picks 

Decorator 

Pieces 

Rock 

Specimens 

And More 

One-of-a-kind jewelry artistically designed by artist, lapidarist and silversmith, 

Merrill Hinshaw. Nationally and internationally known artisans, the Hinshaw family 

has been creating beautiful jewelry and decorator pieces since 1961. Named by 

Lapidary Journal as one of the top 10 stone polishers in the nation, the Hinshaws 

collect, cut and polish stones by hand to create a work of art. 

Open every day 11:00 am to 5:30 pm 

(Also by appointment - just call) 

1232 South County Road 650 West 

French Lick, IN 47432 


812.936.7255 

www.hinshawrockngems.com 

wisebuyingmall.com/hinshawrockngems 

A+ 

For visitor information visit 

visitfrenchlickwestbaden.com or call 

1-877-422-9925 

Pick up our flyer for a detailed map and directions.

Create memories together in this magical 

destination with one-of-a-kind experiences that will 

bring back unforgettable memories for generations to come! 

vflwb.com • #vflwb • 812-936-3418 


Cover Story 

Joe Dones (co-owner/pharmacist), Alec Dones (director of marketing), and Karen Dones (co-owner/pharmacist) 

A Family Affair 

Mathes Pharmacy opens new location after serving the community for 86 years 

Story and Photos by Darian Eswine 

What began as a community 

pharmacy in New Albany 

has become a true family 

affair centered on customer 

service and continual change. 

Vernon Mathes opened Mathes 

Pharmacy in 1931. His son Jon Mathes 

then became a pharmacist and succeeded 

his father in running the business. The 

pharmacy was originally in a building 

across the street from its current location, 

at the corner of Charlestown Road and 

Vincennes Street, and its original location 

currently serves as its medical equipment 

store. 


Jon Mathes became business partners 

with Joe Dones, a fellow pharmacist, 

from 1993 until Mathes retired in 2004. Joe 

Dones now co-owns the pharmacy with 

his wife, Karen, who is also a pharmacist. 

In April, they opened a second location 

in Georgetown. 

“That was an existing pharmacy that 

had been there for a long time, probably 

40 or 50 years. The pharmacist there retired 

so we had the opportunity,” Joe Dones 

said. “It closed and three months later 

we opened up.” 

The co-owners are also currently 

working on a new building for their New 

Albany pharmacy. 

“Right now all of our focus is right 

out here in the parking lot,” Joe Dones 

said. “This building will be taken down 

so it’ll just be everything under one roof in 

the new building.” 

Joe Dones said that having the opportunity 

to open a new location and 

build a new facility in this day and time is 

an accomplishment. “We’re still growing, 

still moving forward.” 

Their strong community relationships 

are evident through this expansion. 

Karen Dones said Gary Longest Construction 

is working on the new building,

which is the same construction company 

that remodeled the current Mathes building 

in 1988. 

“It’s a longtime friend and customer 

so the relationships are definitely important 

for a small business,” Karen Dones 

said. 

In a business like Mathes Pharmacy, 

she said you also have to be a jack-of-alltrades, 

something her oldest son Alec Dones 

has found out in his time at the business. 

He started there after obtaining a 

marketing degree from the University of 

Louisville’s business school. 

“I’m learning as I go and learning 

something new every day,” he said. 

Karen Dones said that having her 

children interested in the business has 

made the pharmacy special. Alec Dones 

serves as Mathes’ director of marketing, 

their middle child will be attending the 

Sullivan College of Pharmacy, and their 

youngest is still deciding what to pursue. 

While family involvement is a huge 

achievement for them, Joe Dones said the 

fact that the pharmacy is still in business is 

also an achievement. 

“The fact that we’re still here and 

have been around for 86 years, the fact that 

we can continually go with the changes [is 

an accomplishment],” he said. “You either 

have to change or if you don’t change, 

you’re not going to be around.” 

Joe Dones said the biggest challenges 

have been both technology and the 

continuous regulation changes with insurance 

companies. They also make sure 

to keep their business customer-oriented. 

“We just try to keep a balance of all 

the new things that are regulations and 

requirements, but keep the small-town 

customer service feel,” he said. 

“We’re here in the community to 

help the customers — that’s our main priority,” 

Karen Dones added. “Customer 

service has definitely changed just because 

of the way healthcare has changed.” 

Insurance is one area that the coowners 

said they would like to see change 

for the better. 

“It’d be nice to see insurance companies 

work a little more with pharmacies. 

We are a lot of the patient contact — they 

just walk in anytime and here we are,” Joe 

Dones said. “It’d be nice if the insurance 

would work with us to take advantage of 

our access to the patients.” 

He added that insurance companies 

are constantly working to cut costs, which 

affects reimbursement rates for any health 

facility. 

“There’s always pressure to try to 

expand your services and do more while 

getting less, so that’s a challenge,” Joe Do- 

“The fact that we’re 

still here and have been 

around for 86 years, 

the fact that we can 

continually go with 

the changes [is an 

accomplishment]. You 

either have to change 

or if you don’t change, 

you’re not going to be 

around.” 

Joe Dones, 

Mathes Pharmacy Owner & 

Pharmacist 

A display case at the entrance of the pharmacy highlights its 86-year history. 


nes said. 

One of the ways they meet this challenge 

is by providing as many services as 

they can for their customers. Karen Dones 

said they not only have a variety of services, 

including diabetes education and 

prescription delivery, but they also do 

specialty work. 

“We help customers find things that 

they can’t get other places or that other 

places won’t order,” she said. 

Mathes also works with facilities 

such as nursing homes and assisted living 

communities, which require special packaging 

and monthly medicinal planners for 

patients. 

“They don’t have to worry about 

what time or when they’re supposed 

to take their meds; they’re already all 

planned out,” Karen Dones said. “So that 

takes a lot of communication between us 

and the patient and between us and the 

doctor’s offce too because sometimes it’s 

hard for the customers to make the connection 

back with the doctor’s offce to get 

things cleared up.” 

Aside from continuing their customer 

focus, the Dones family is hoping 

the pharmacy will be more involved with 

the community after the upcoming expansion. 

Joe Dones is a board member with 

Hope Southern Indiana, and Karen Dones 

works with the Girls Giving Fund’s 

“Dancing for Denise” project, raising 

money for the Pat Harrison Center, and 

is also a part of the New Albany Rotary 

Club. The pharmacy has also been involved 

in nonprofit events. 

The co-owners are hoping to host 

community groups in their new building’s 

conference space. Joe Dones said 

they’ll have room for health fairs, seminars 

and other events for small groups. 

Alec Dones said he hopes to expand 

clinical services, such as their diabetes 

education program. “And going beyond 

dispensing — that’s a big trend in the industry 

right now,” he said. 

Overall, it’s the customer service 

that has kept Mathes open and successful 

all of these years and what will continue 

propelling them into the future. 

“It’s the personal touch, the personal 

connection, the go-the-step-beyond for 

customer service,” Joe Dones said. 

The new building is expected to be 

completed in May, and the co-owners are 

hopeful about the pharmacy’s growth. 

The building “is the focus right now, 

but a year from now when this is up and 

running, who knows what other opportunities 

are out there,” Joe Dones said. 

“We’re always looking.” • 

The original Mathes Pharmacy in New Albany 

is located at 1621 Charlestown Road. The 

newest location in Georgetown is located at 

1044 N. Luther Road. For more information, 

go to www.mathespharmacy.com. 


One of the Largest Community Nonprofit Hospice & Palliative 

Care Providers is Right in Your Backyard 

Serious illness can strike any person, at any stage of life. But, thankfully, 

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800-264-0521 | HosparusHealth.org | A Nonprofit Organization 


Your Community presented by 

Metro United Way 

100 YEARS AND GROWING 

More than 500 guests gathered in the Louisville Downtown Marriott 

to celebrate Metro United Way’s significant milestone--100 years of 

service to communities on both sides of the river. 

Dr. Andrew Melon, Superintendent 

of Greater Clark School 

Corp., and his wife Karla shared 

Hoosier pride in the 100th anniversary 

of Metro United Way. 

“Changing Generations” was the theme of the festive evening with 

entertainment that coincided with Veteran’s Day on Nov. 11 and paid 

tribute to the military. 

The program recognized past and present leaders, partners, and organization 

volunteers, with president and CEO Theresa Reno-Weber 

sharing her vision for the non-profit’s continuing impact in the next 

100 years. Presenting sponsors were Brown-Forman, LG&E, and UPS. 

The gala’s climax was punctuated with confetti, balloons, and dancing 

to Endless Summer, following a surprise announcement of a $1 

million challenge grant from 2017 Campaign Chair Matt Thornton 

and his wife Fran. Their gift will match all donations before Jan. 18, 

2018. 

Staff members and Southern Indiana 

residents Lynn Armstrong 

and Donna Wooten reflected the 

spirit of joy that permeated the 

event and the organization’s significant 

accomplishments. 

The Metro United Way’s 100th Anniversary Celebration was a family affair 

for the Browns of New Albany: Joe, past board chair, and his wife Sharon; 

and their daughter-in-law Lindsay and son Matt. 

Sharing the evening’s excitement among MUW leaders and staffers 

were Southern Indiana residents Victoria Monday and Jan 

Sherrell. 


These pages are sponsored by Ideology

Rotary Club of New Albany 

Toast Celebrates Jerrol and Alice Miles 

“Miles of Service” was far more than a play on words for the 24th annual Rotary Community 

Toast and Benefit Banquet late last year. The theme typified the impact that 

honorees Jerrol and Alice Miles have had on the community for decades. 

Huber Winery’s Plantation Hall was filled with family, friends, Rotarians, and members 

of the business community who gathered to celebrate the long-time New Albany 

residents. 

A portion of the proceeds from the gala evening will go to two non-profits chosen by 

the Mileses: Brandon’s House, across from New Albany High School and offers free 

counseling to teens; and The Center for Women and Families, whose New Albany site 

offers support and shelter for those who have been abused and works to co-create violence-free 

lives, families, and communities. The remaining proceeds will be used by 

Rotary to support a variety of non-profits. 

For details of Jerrol and Alice’s impressive journey and service, see the feature on pages 

32-33. 

2017 Rotary honorees Jerrol and Alice Miles 

All smiles before the inspiring program began were Kara Brown of The 

Center for Women and Families; Fran Fach, Rotary Club of New Albany 

president; Susan Parr, retired director of Brandon’s House; Carol 

Dawson, who wrote the program tribute to the Mileses; and the Rev. 

O. Lacy Evans, former pastor of Jones Memorial AME Zion Church, 

who gave the invocation. 

Meeting old friends and making new ones was a theme at the annual 

Rotary event. Joining the camaraderie were Dr. Dan Eichenberger and 

Dayna Ashley, board members of the Floyd Memorial Hospital Foundation; 

and David and Tammie Neal, founders and CEO of CyberTek. 

6500 State Road 64 • Georgetown, IN 47122 

www.ideology.biz • 812-399-1400 

Feasting on food and fellowship were Susan Waiz; Nicole Yates, president-elect 

of the Rotary Club of Jeffersonville; Louie Jenson; and Andrew 

Wymer. 

These pages are sponsored by Ideology 



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Inspiration for Every Season of Faith 

Service you can TRUST! 

CALL SHORT - BATES TEAM 

Holiday Road 

A Christmas Devotional 

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Southern Indiana in Pictures 

Silver Creek High School 

State Cheerleading Champions 

(Varsity C Division) 

SIlver Creek High School won their first ever state 

championship on November 11, 2017 at the Indiana 

state varsity cheer competition. Team members 

include: 

Alexia Harris 

Ally Nelson 

Anna Whittinghill 

Brailey Cassady 

Braylin Trump 

Bri Hudson 

Briley Morris 

Dayna Wilson 

Destiny Ogden 

Emma Long 

Haley Robinson 

Hunter Schnatter 

Kenzie Mudd 

Kiersten Jewell 

Kylee Scott 

Lexi McLemore 

Taylor Shrout 


Making a Difference 

Miles of Love and Service 

Local couple models servant leadership in Southern Indiana 

Story by Carol Baker Dawson 

Photos Courtesy of Photo Lulu 

Pictured: (top) Front Row (L to R) – Jerron Miles, Cheyenne Mecier, Indie Miles, and Sierra Mecier Paff. Not pictured are grandchildren, Elijah Hearn and Jasmine Hearn Back Row (L to R) 

– Charles Richardson (nephew-son), Kathy Miles, Chris Miles (son), Jerry Miles, Alice miles, Stacey Mecier (daughter), and Dan Mecier. Not pictured: Melissa Hearn (daughter), Adrian Richardson 

(nephew-son); (bottom) Alice Miles and husband, Jerry, after giving an acceptance speech at the New Albany Rotary Club’s Annual Service Above Self Community Toast and Benefit. 


When they were recently told 

they had received the Service 

Above Self recognition 

from the New Albany Rotary 

Club, both Alice and Jerrol “Jerry” 

Miles were extremely humbled. “Maybe 

our names came up because we are older 

than dirt and have been here our entire 

lives,” Alice Miles joked. 

The couple has been married for 54 

years, and while they tend to defuse recognition 

with humor, the couple’s passion 

for right-siding this topsy-turvy world is 

quite impressive. 

Both Alice and Jerry Miles were 

raised in New Albany. When they were 

asked how they have been motivated toward 

volunteerism, Alice Miles said, “My 

father worked two jobs while my mother 

took care of the family and home. Focusing 

on the family, my mother taught her 

children to always treat others the way 

we wanted to be treated, to be honest, and 

most of all, to love the Lord.” 

Jerry Miles added, “My mother also 

instilled the value of always giving back 

more than I take away, and to never take 

away what doesn’t belong to me. I learned 

quickly that helping others or getting 

something positive accomplished in our 

community just feels right.” 

Because the Mileses feel they have 

been given much, they commit themselves 

to give considerable gifts of time 

and treasure to others. They also credit 

their faith for providing a solid platform 

to genuinely care for other people. “I was 

blessed by being born to Christian parents 

who taught me about God’s love and his 

teachings at an early age,” Alice Miles 

said. “The love of God has guided me in 

every situation throughout my life.” The 

couple are members of Jones Memorial 

AME Zion Church in New Albany. 

- Alice Miles 

Jerry and Alice Miles raised two 

daughters, Stacey Mecier and Melissa 

Hearn, and a son, J. Christopher Miles, 

along with two teenage nephews who 

came to live with the Mileses after their 

mother passed away. They are extremely 

proud of the accomplishments of their 

children, nephews and nine grandchildren. 

Jerry Miles earned a degree from 

Indiana University, while Alice Miles 

earned a nursing degree from Spalding 

University (formerly Nazareth College). 

She worked as a nurse with Floyd Memorial 

Hospital and New Albany-Floyd 

County Schools. She retired from the 

school system in 2003, and in 2007 she 

accepted a part-time position as a multicultural 

outreach specialist with the Community 

Foundation of Southern Indiana. 

Jerry Miles became a medical/Xray 

technician. After two years, he joined 

the Army, where he served as a medical 

laboratory technician. He was honored 

with the Army Commendation Medal 

for Meritorious Service. After graduating 

from IU, Jerry Miles accepted a job with 

First National Bank of Louisville (now 

National City Bank). He retired after 33 

years of service and then worked for PNC 

until 2016. 

Protecting civil rights has played a 

major role in Jerry and Alice Miles’ lives. 

Alice Miles was a peaceful demonstrator 

during the Civil Rights era by sitting at a 

traditionally white-only department store 

lunch counter and at a whites-only bowling 

alley. Jerry Miles recalls times when 

he and his young wife were turned away 

from hotels because of segregation, leaving 

them to sleep in their car during long 

trips. 

They say they still feel pain when 

recalling their experiences with racial 

inequality, but the feelings do not cloud 

their positive attitudes and hope for the 

future. 

Jerry and Alice Miles have given 

considerably to ensure that their community 

thrives, grows and moves forward. 

They are proud, yet humble; seriousminded, 

yet hilarious; sensitive, yet firm; 

and understanding, yet inquiring. Alice 

and Jerry Miles are champion humanitarians, 

and Southern Indiana residents are 

fortunate that they are committed to making 

the area a better place to live, work 

and play. • 

A LIFETIME OF SERVICE 

Alice Miles’ volunteer work 

Founding member of Women’s Foundation of Southern Indiana 

Altrusa International Club of New Albany 

Friends of the Town Clock Church 

Friends of Division Street School 

Floyd County Public Health Board 

Hispanic Connection of Southern Indiana 

Center for Women and Families Southern Indiana Partnership Council 

Indiana Blacks in Philanthropy 

American Cancer Society 

Alice Miles’ awards 

Anna Katherine Hickerson Diversity Award 

Women of Distinction Award/Center for Women and Families 

New Albany-Floyd County High School’s Award of Appreciation 

New Albany High School Hall of Fame 

Jerry Miles’ volunteer work 

Board of Trustees for Baptist Health Floyd 

A founding member of One Southern Indiana (1SI) 

1SI Foundation Board 

Indiana University Alumni Association Board of Managers 

Southern Indiana Clark-Floyd Counties Convention and Tourism Bureau 

Member of the Board of Trustees for Spalding University 

Jerry Miles’ awards 

Indiana University Southeast Chancellor’s Medallion 

IU Alumni Association President’s Award 

New Albany High School Hall of Fame 

Metro United Way award for outstanding volunteer service and leadership 


Weddings 

A Southern Indiana Wedding 

Mr. and Mrs. Dodson 

Local couple uses Southern Indiana Vendors to make their dreams come true 


Story by Sara Combs 

Photos by Mitchell Prout

Danielle Fleming’s autumn wedding 

was everything she hoped 

it would be. She and her fiance, 

Zachary Dodson, wanted the 

day to be special, and it was. The couple 

exchanged vows on a sunny October afternoon 

in Kye’s courtyard in Jeffersonville, 

with David Parkerson from Eastside 

Christian Church offciating. A reception 

followed at Kye’s II. 

“It was all perfect,” Danielle said. 

The couple made a point of using local 

vendors. 

“Zach and I love supporting small 

businesses and restaurants and wanted to 

showcase how a small town can produce 

a beautiful wedding,” she said. “I work in 

downtown Jeffersonville and have seen it 

grow tremendously. I feel it is becoming 

the place to be.” 

The couple couldn’t have been happier 

with the outcome. “They really came 

through for us,” said Danielle, a dental 

hygienist at Brinegar Family Dentistry. 

It wasn’t exactly love at first sight for 

Danielle and Zach, but there was a spark 

from the beginning. 

Both are Indiana University graduates. 

“Most people assume we met there,” 

Danielle said, “but we never saw each 

other at school.” 

However, it was an IU connection 

that brought them together. Jessika Janoski, 

Danielle’s college roommate, attended 

the same Evansville high school as Zach. 

“They remained friends,” Danielle 

said. “I met Jessika through the dental hygiene 

program and we moved in together. 

After graduating college, I moved back to 

Sellersburg and started my career.” 

Then Jessika invited Danielle on the 

camping trip that would change her life. 

“Zach happened to be there,” Danielle 

said. “We hit it off. I remember coming 

home and telling my coworkers and 

friends that I had met someone, but I 

didn’t think anything would come of it.” 

And nothing did for a while. 

“Then we started talking on Facebook,” 

Danielle said. Soon they began 

casual visits. Sometimes Zach came to 

Sellersburg and sometimes she traveled to 

his home in Warsaw, Indiana. Other times 

they bridged the four-hour drive by meeting 

in Indianapolis. 

Then in October 2015, they started 

dating for real – at first long-distance. 

“I thought Zach was the one for 

me, but it was confirmed when he sacrificed 

everything and moved down here,” 

Danielle said. That was in June 2016. “He 

left a social studies teaching position and 

started a new career at Five-Star Technology 

where he works with area schools incorporating 

technology into their curriculum.” 

Zach also coaches football at Silver 

Danielle and Zach at Kyes 

“Zach and I love supporting small 

businesses and restaurants and wanted 

to showcase how a small town can 

produce a beautiful wedding” 

- Danielle Dodson 


Pictured: (top, left) the wedding cake from Adrienne and Company was decorated with a pattern to match the bride’s gown; (top, right) a boutiful blush and burgundy bouquet by Ray Herdt 

Florist; (bottom) the bride in front of Market Street Inn, where the couple spent their wedding night. 


Creek High School. 

Danielle said she knew that leaving 

everything he knew, moving to a strange 

place and changing jobs had to have been 

stressful for Zach. 

“But the first night he was here, he 

cooked dinner for me, bought flowers and 

wine, and made me feel totally special,” 

she said. She knew then that he was the 

one for her. 

“There might not have been a specific 

moment when I knew Danielle was the 

one for me,” Zach said. “I just knew over 

time she was the one I wanted to spend 

my life with.” 

During his 26th birthday celebration, 

he decided the time had come to 

make it happen. 

“Danielle surprised me by taking me 

to Kentucky Cave Country. She had a lot 

planned. We went horseback riding, rode 

the mountain coaster, went to Kentucky 

Down Under to hang out with kangaroos, 

went zorbing (getting strapped inside an 

inflatable ball and rolling down a huge 

hill) and visited a distillery. 

“I knew anyone who cared that 

much about me, to take time to plan all 

that just to make me happy, was the one 

for me,” he said. “It was time to get a ring 

and pop the question.” 

And on Dec. 10, 2016, he did just 

that. 

“That will be one day I will never 

forget,” Danielle said. “We were celebrating 

the holidays and went to see Lights 

Under Louisville.” They went out to dinner, 

visited the downtown Christmas tree 

and ice skated. 

“I knew Zach was a little nervous,” 

Danielle said. “We only did three laps 

around the rink, but he was so nervous I 

thought he might fall. Then we went over 

to the Christmas tree.” 

That’s when Zach got down on one 

knee. 

“He had everything so well 

planned,” she said. That included having 

a friend on site to photograph the moment. 

Danielle said yes, and wedding 

plans soon followed. 

“We went to Kye’s for our first vendor 

and fell in love with it,” Danielle said. 

“They have the perfect package for any 

size wedding.” The outside courtyard was 

a plus. “I was adamant about getting married 

outside, and since it is covered with 

a tent we didn’t have to worry about the 

weather.” 

Ten days into their engagement, the 

couple had checked out at least eight venues 

for the wedding, but decided Kye’s 

was perfect. “We wanted a glamorous, 

Wedding guests on Kye’s checkered dance floor 

romantic feel and Kye’s white and black 

checkered dance floor set the tone. We 

chose black, white, blush and gold for our 

colors.” 

Danielle didn’t want to be a 

“bridezilla,” sweating over petty details. 

“I wanted the wedding to be as stress-free 

as possible.” So they chose a package that 

handled details. 

“Stumler’s Catering was amazing,” 

Danielle added. “Debbie, the owner, was 

so friendly and set up the buffet beautifully. 

She gave us free late-night snacks 

— White Castles for our guests.” The 

meal included salads, a vegetable medley, 

mashed potato bar, parmesan-crusted 

baked chicken, sliced beef and rolls. 

“I wanted my cake from Adrienne 

and Co.; we also got the groom’s cake 

there. Ray Herdt was super helpful in deciding 

my floral scheme. We rented the 

Jeffersonville City Trolley for transportation; 

Rick Wheeler, our driver, was great. 

“Schimpff’s Confectionery made 

our favors. And our guests loved Sheraton 

Riverside Hotel. They provided shuttle 

service to and from the wedding and took 

us to the afterparty at Tavern on Fourth 

Street.” 

Others involved included Roots Salon, 

Richard Sherman from Regiss Bridal 

and Prom and Tuxedo Avenue. 


The newlyweds live in Sellersburg, 

where they are looking forward to life together. 

“I think we both constantly try to 

find ways to make each other happy,” 

Zach said. “I can’t wait to keep doing that 

for the rest of our lives.” • 

Photos courtesy of Mitchell Prout Photography. 

For more information, go to www.mitchellprout.co 

The wedding party poses in front of the Jeffersonville Trolley after taking final pictures around town. 

#LOCAL Vendors 

The following list is a partial list of vendors used 

by Danielle and Zach Dodson. 

Kye’s 

www.kye-s.com 

Mitchell Prout Photography 

www.mitchellprout.com 

Stumler’s Catering 

www.stumlerscatering.com 

Adrienne and Co. 

www.cakestoday.com 

Herdt Florist 

www.herdtflorist.com 

Jeffersonville City Trolley 

https://jeffparks.org/parks/jeffersonville-trolleys/ 

Schimpff’s Confectionery 

www.schimpffs.com 

Sheraton Riverside Hotel 

www.sheratonlouisvilleriverside.com/ 

Roots Salon 

www.facebook.com/rootssalonjeff 

Regiss Bridal and Prom 

www.regiss.com 

Tuxedo Avenue 

www.tuxedoavenue.com 

Make your 

Valentine 

Reservations 

NOW! 

(Check our website 

or call for more info.) 

Hours: Sun-Thurs 11-8 

Fri & Sat 11-9 

Only 3 miles from I-64, Exit 92 

1153 Old S.R. 62, Leavenworth 

812-739-4269 

www.theoverlook.com 


Checking it off your list 

It’s the season of resolutions. Many people start the new 

year with a list of goals and projects to accomplish. If creating 

a will is on your list, here are some tips. 

Doing your homework before you meet with an attorney 

can save you time and money. In addition to giving some 

thought to how you want your property distributed, take the 

time to assemble the following information: 

• Your (and your spouse’s) social security number and 

birthplace 

• Date and place of current marriage, location of 

marriage license and copy of any prenuptial 

agreement 

• Names of former spouses. Date of death or 

separation/divorce 

• Names, ages and addresses of planned beneficiaries 

• List of real estate owned, estimated value and cost 

basis 

• Name and contact for income tax preparer/accountant 

• List of other assets (insurance policies, IRAs, 

investments), including estimated value and cost basis 

• Life insurance or annuity contracts 

• List of current mortgages or debts, including amounts 

and when they incurred 

• Employment benefits, such as pension or profit 

sharing, insurance, stock options, etc. 

• Name and contact information for guardians of minor 

children 

• List of who gets what personal property, such as 

family heirlooms, etc. 

• Name and address of any charitable organizations 

you want to include in your plans 

If you have preferences about a memorial service, final 

resting place, etc., take the time to discuss it with your loved 

ones, or write it down and make it easy to find. Knowing 

your wishes will make it easier for your loved ones to make 

arrangements. 

After all, putting together a will doesn’t focus on your 

death; it’s a plan for how your passing affects the lives of 

those you leave behind. 

If you would like more information on how to get started 

with your will, or how to include your favorite nonprofit or 

cause, call us at 812-738-6668. 


Health & Fitness 

Brenda’s Journey 

HMR Program at Baptist Health provides 

accountability and coaching on path to wellness 

Brenda’s weight loss journey began 

in February 2016. Her beginning 

weight was 292 pounds. High 

blood pressure, swollen legs, high 

cholesterol and a bad back were a part of 

her everyday life. “I was a mess,” she said. 

Having tried several diets over the 

years, she has lost over 100 pounds four 

different times. This time, she wanted it to 

stick. This led her to the HMR program. 

HMR offered her structure as well as 

accountability from classes and coaching. 

Brenda said she feels the support from 

classmates and coaches has been invaluable. 

“I could not have done it without 

them. I learned something at every meeting. 

The beauty of being in class is that 

everyone is on the same journey. I understand 

what they are going through and 

they understand me,” Brenda said. 

Some people might say the program’s 

cost is a deterrent. Brenda explained, 

“HMR is costly but so are medications, 

doctor visits and funerals.” 

Brenda admits that her life has 

changed drastically. Being 115 pounds 

lighter has made everyday chores easier, 

she has fewer aches and pains, and she 

finds shopping fun again. She also doesn’t 

mind looking in the mirror. 

Brenda said she would encourage 

others to join the HMR program. “Just do 

itl What do you have to lose? If you give 

up, you have lost what makes life worth 

living. I say choose life!” • 

Pictured: Brenda before (right) and after (left) participating 

in the HMR Program at Baptist Health Floyd. 

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make lives better. 

We started by making 

banking better. 

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porch swings, or over dinner by real people trying to do the right thing for their families today—and in the 

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Artists of Southern Indiana 

Inspired by Stone: The Sculptures of Larry Beisler 

Story and Photos by Judy Cato 

The Harrison County Visitor Center, 

located on “the square” at the 

corner of Walnut and Elm streets 

in downtown Corydon, might be 

regarded as the front door to the town. 

Directly in front of this building an impressive 

7-foot-by-14-foot bas-relief sculpture, 

carved in Indiana limestone, depicts 

William Henry Harrison and Jenny Smith 

standing under the Constitutional Elm. 

They are flanked by carvings of the Old 

Capitol Building and a log cabin. Two 

plaques beside the sculpture narrate the 

story of how Harrison came to name the 

town. 

The sculpture was carved by Harrison 

County artist Larry Beisler and commissioned 

by the Town ofCorydon in 2001 


as part of its Millennium project. “I did a 

lot of research on the history behind this 

sculpture before I began,” Beisler said. He 

explained that “Harrison often visited the 

Smith cabin — at the site of the present 

Harrison County Fairgrounds — where 

Jenny would play the song about the 

mythical shepherd boy, named Corydon, 

on her dulcimer. Because the area was so 

peaceful and serene, Harrison decided to 

name this fledgling community after this 

shepherd.” 

A visit to Beisler’s studio near Elizabeth 

reveals another side of this sculptor’s 

work. Here, in a remote area on the Ohio 

River amid 100 acres of forests and wildlife 

including bobcats and bald eagles, 

Beisler has lived and worked for over 20 

years. The tools of his trade are here: raw 

stone and an array of chisels, hammers 

and files. His gallery showcases his finished 

sculptures: over two dozen exquisite 

abstract pieces, inspired by nature, 

carved mostly from alabaster and marble. 

Beisler enjoys talking about the 

properties of the stone he works with. 

The sculpture “Fleur de Lis” was “carved 

from Utah alabaster, which is known for 

its bands of color resembling the multicolored 

landscapes of Utah,” he said. Another 

sculpture called “Archangel” is carved 

from Yule marble which, Beisler said, “is 

found only in the Yule Creek Valley in the 

Elk Mountains of Colorado near the town 

of Marble. Because this marble is 99.5 percent 

pure calcite, it has a clean white, al-

most luminous appearance.” The pristine 

whiteness of this marble is suited for this 

unique work, with its constant curvature 

and continuous flow, and its sense of spiraling 

movement has a celestial quality. 

When asked how he comes up 

with ideas for his shapes, Beisler quotes 

Michelangelo: “Every block of stone has 

a statue inside it, and it is the task of the 

sculptor to discover it.” He went on to 

explain that “once the crusty dead outer 

layers of the stone are removed, the grain 

will show you what the stone can do. After 

that, the form comes from my subconscious; 

I do not have any preconceived 

ideas.” 

The woods around his studio have 

shaped his creative process. His piece 

“Woodland Fungus,” with its base made 

of burl wood — an abnormal growth on 

some trees — looks like a giant speckled 

mushroom springing from the crevasses 

of a knobby log. His finds in the woods 

sometimes have a more direct relationship 

to his work. His sculpture “Bracing 

for a Storm” depicts a Native American 

wrapped in a buffalo robe. In the man’s 

hand, Beisler placed a genuine arrowhed 

found in his woods. 

Beisler encourages visitors to touch 

the sculptures, which are smoothed with 

sandpaper and polished. The smoothness 

of the stone is surprisingly calming. 

Beisler grew up in Louisville. Ever 

since he was a small boy he was creating 

works of art: he painted, wrote stories, 

played the guitar and sang. During his 

time at Bellarmine University — studying 

under sculptor Bob Lockhart — he got 

hooked on stone carving. He has never 

looked back. From there he went on to 

apprentice under other stone carvers and 

bronze casters, including Barney Bright. 

His first public sculpture was done working 

as an assistant to Paul Fields on the 

rhinoceros at the Louisville Zoo. Beisler 

has also created scenery and props for the 

Louisville Ballet, Stage One and the Kentucky 

Opera. His work has been shown in 

many galleries and he has won recognition 

in many art competitions. 

The road to making a living as a 

sculptor is seldom easy. But Beisler chose 

to follow this path because of his natural 

talent and the ancient pull of hands to 

stone. “The stone speaks to me,” he said. 

He also gives credit to his stubborn determination 

and to his supportive wife, 

Sandy Lee. • 

A visit to Beisler’s studio near Elizabeth 

reveals another side of this sculptor’s work. 

Here, in a remote area on the Ohio River 

amid 100 acres of forests and wildlife 

including bobcats and bald eagles, Beisler 

has lived and worked for over 20 years. 

For more information on Beisler and his art, go 

to www.beislerart.com. 


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www.HarrisonLifelongLearning.com

Everyday Adventures 

Winter Wipeout 

Sledding in the dark is never a good 

idea, especially when you don’t 

know what’s ahead of you. Just ask 

my uncle Brian. He learned that 

lesson the hard way when he was about 

twelve years old. 

We had just been hit by several inches 

of snow, which was all the excuse my 

family needed to gather for a sledding 

party in the field by my cousins’ house. 

The hill was huge and perfect for those 

classic Flexible Flyer sleds with metal runners. 

In my day we didn’t mess around on 

plastic saucers. The only thing that stood 

between us and a painful, icy death on 

the slopes was a few pieces of birch wood 

and two steel rails. Those sleds flew when 

the snow was right, but the runners could 

slice your finger off if you’re weren’t paying 

attention. At least that’s what we told 

each other on the playground. 

Brian rode “The Black Widow,” a 

sled he’d customized by painting it black 

and writing the words “BLACK WID- 

OW” across the planks in bold, white letters. 

He’d also painted a white spider on 

it just for a touch of danger. 

I’d seen him ride that sled a million 

times and typically he’d either grease the 

rails with soap or candle wax to make it 

really fly. Tonight was no exception. The 

second the Black Widow hit the snow it 

was gone. 

Even though almost forty years have 

passed I can still see the dark shape of the 

Black Widow winding its way down the 

hill. The sled track hugged the treeline to 

the right of the field where the grass was 

shortest, and it was a gloriously long ride 

to the bottom. 

Brian was about two thirds of the 

way down the hill when I remember 

someone saying, “I wonder if he knows 

there’s a ditch down there?” 

Ditch was understatement. The field 

ended in a barbed wire fence and a ravine 

that had to be a good eight to ten feet deep. 

We watched Brian approach it, waiting 

for him to turn, stop, do a ninja flip 

or something, but he had no idea it was 

there. The Black Widow launched silently 

into the abyss. Then nothing. No crash. 

No screams. No cries of agony. Nothing. 

I guess we were too far away to hear it. 

It seemed like we stood there forever, 

waiting for a sign of life, but it was 

probably just a few minutes. Eventually, 

We had just been hit by several inches of snow, 

which was all the excuse my family needed to gather 

for a sledding party in the field by my cousins’ house. 

a shadow emerged from the ravine, and 

everyone breathed a sigh of relief as he 

began to hobble his way back up the hill. 

Brian got off lucky that day, bruised 

and battered for sure, but nothing was 

broken. Just the fact that he could climb 

out of the ditch was miracle in itself. 

Sometimes life is like that. We don’t 

always see the obstacles ahead. Some 

days the bottom just drops out and we 

crash hard. Whether it’s a crash at work 

or a crash in our marriage, a struggle with 

money or a struggle with depression, it 

doesn’t matter. The results are the same. 

We end up in a ditch. 

If we’re lucky, we’re able to pick 

ourselves back up and go on our way, but 

other times we’re so wounded, so broken 

that we just lay in the bottom unable to 

move. The fact is there are some ditches 

in life we can crawl out of on our own and 

others where we need some help. 

That’s why I love the words a king 

named David once wrote about a time he 

was stuck in a ditch, surrounded by more 

trouble than he could handle. Yet, despite 

his circumstances, David knew he wasn’t 

in the ditch alone. He said, “I waited 

patiently for the Lord; he turned to me 

and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the 

slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set 

my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place 

to stand” (Psalm 40:1-2 NIV). 

David knew that just as we areprone 

to land in ditches, God is prone to save 

us. That means the next time the bottom 

drops out of your life, you can turn 

straight to God. The Bible teaches that 

there’s not a canyon deep enough where 

he can’t find you, not a circumstance bad 

enough where he can’t help. • 

Above: A snapshot from a family sledding day / Jason Byerly 

Jason Byerly is a writer, pastor, husband and 

dad who loves the quirky surprises God sends 

his way every day. You can catch up with Jason 

on his blog at www.jasonbyerly.com or on 

Twitter at www.twitter.com/jasondbyerly. 


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WEIGHT LOSS ISN’T JUST ABOUT 

WHAT YOU LOSE. 

IT’S ABOUT WHAT YOU GAIN. 

COME TO OUR NEXT WEIGHT-LOSS SEMINAR AND SEE WHAT IT COULD MEAN TO YOU. 

If you’re missing out on the things you’d love to do with your family and friends, it may be time to take a lifechanging 

step. At Baptist Health Floyd, we offer both medical and surgical weight-loss options that can help you 

succeed where diets have failed. We’re here to help you achieve significant weight loss that can lead to better 

health, greater confidence and a more active life. And our team will be centered on you and your success every 

step of the way. To register for a weight-loss seminar, call 1.800.4.SOURCE. 

Corbin | Floyd | La Grange | Lexington | Louisville | Madisonville | Paducah | Richmond 

BaptistHealth.com

JanFeb 2018 

ePub 

EXTRA 

Pearls of Wisdom 2018 

Personal Counseling Services 

- Music Therapy Facilities 

Women Empowering Women 

Page E49- Southern Indiana Living ePub Extra JanFeb 2018

2018 Keynote Speakers: 

March 7 - Pat Harrison 

Broker | RE/MAX FIRST 

Owner | Pat Harrison Enterprises 

June 6 - Cile Blau 

Senior Judge, State of Indiana 

Join us for a breakfast to remember. You will hear from 

our successful keynote speaker and then engage oneon-one 

with outstanding women professionals for an 

in-depth discussion that will leave you energized and 

motivated to identify your own action steps 

and tackle new challenges. 

8:00 a.m. 

Kye’s II 

500 Missouri Ave. 

Jeffersonville, Indiana 

September 5 - Nikki R. Jackson 

Senior Vice President and Regional Executive 

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Louisville Branch 

December 5 - Summer Auerbach 

Owner, Rainbow Blossom Natural Food Markets 

Cost: 

$35 for 1si members 

$50 guests 

Members – Save $40 and register 

before March 6 for all four sessions 

for only $100! 

To register visit 1si.org or call 812.945.0266. 

Registration is required. 

business resources 

economic development 

advocacy

THANK 

YOU 

for your support in 2017! 

Pictured above: Music therapist Tyler Dippold with Drew, a client, at our music 

therapy showcase held in December. 

We are so excited for all of the ways we were able to serve the community in 2017 

because of your generosity and we are even more excited for 2018. Our Music 

Therapy Department, which began three years ago, has been rapidly expanding. We 

now have a full staff of music therapists seeing, combined, over 100 clinical hours 

each week. 

This month, we are expanding our offices. The Music Therapy facility will be 

building out three new clinic spaces in order to see more clients more efficiently. We 

want to thank AML General Contractors and CEO & Owner Bobby Libs for his 

generosity in donating materials, making this project possible. 

Personal Counseling Service, Inc. will be hosting a ribbon cutting and Open House 

in April - like our Facebook page to keep updated! 

Personal Counseling Service, Inc. 

1205 Applegate Lane 

Clarksville, IN 47129 

812-283-8383 

pcs-counseling.org 

facebook.com/personalcounselingserviceinc

Fall Fashion Experience 

Louisville Fashion Models 

November 17, 2017 

300 Spring St., Jeffersonville 

Photographer: John Zehnder 

Power Breakfast 

Guests & Speakers 

300 Spring St., Jeffersonville 

Nov. 18, 2017 

www.wewseries.com 

Page E52 - Southern Indiana Living ePub Extra JanFeb 2018

Southern Indiana Living JanFeb 2018

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